Protected clasp-fastener.



J. P. -BAUMGARTNER.

PROTECTED CLASP FASTENER. APPLICATION FILED 001.16. 1911.

- 1,201,542. Patentedflctli, 1916.

FILZJ JOSEPH P. BAUMGARTNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROTECTED CLASP-FASTENEB.

Application filed October 16, 1911.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH P- BAUM- GARTNER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and aresident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented acertain new and useful Protected Clasp-Fastener, of which the followingis a specification.

The purpose of my invention is to cover the metal at the back of onemember of a garter clasp or buckle by fabric projected by the othermember.

A further purpose of my invention is to form one of two cooperatingclasp members as a free rider upon one side of a preferably adjustablegarter or belt loop end, and to extend the portion of this member whichlies between the folds of the loop so that the fabric loop thus extendedforms a backer for the other member.

A further purpose of my invention is to provide for sewing a dependinggarter loop laterally from its extreme edge through a supporting plate,preferably sewing one end of the leg-encircling band through the plateat the same operation.

Further purposes of my invention will appear in the specification andclaim hereof.

Figure l is a perspective of one form of my invention which has, inpractice, proved eflicient and successful. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation ofa portion of the structure seen in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a front elevationin detached position of the clasp or buckle members shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 4: is a broken top plan view of the structure seen in Fig. 1. Fig.5 is an elevation of one of the clasp members with the parts in place.Fig. 6 is a section'of Fig. 5 taken upon line w-w thereof. Figs. 7 and 8are elevations of my clasp plate with depending loops secured indifferent ways.

Similar numerals of reference indicate like parts in the drawings.

The belt 1 terminates at one end in a loop having sides 2, 3. Theextreme end fof the elastic fabric is passed reversely through a buckle5. It protects the buckle and the latter permits adjustment of thegarter by altering the length of the loop. The hook member 6 is shown assurrounding the front of the loop, riding upon it freely and resting atthe end of the loop by reason of the pull upon the hook. The front plateor portion. of the hook member has its sides turned rearwardly and theirterminals then turned Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1'7, 1916.

Serial No. 654,829.

toward each other to form a rear portion inclosing a free passage spacefor the fabric. The rear portion of the surrounding clasp member isextended, as at 7, to form a backing for the other clasp member byforcing material of the loop to cover the back of the adjoining claspportion. Obviously, either clasp member could carry the extension tocover or protect the back of the other, so that no metal is exposed tothe wearer.

The extension of the back at 7 is preferably accomplished by theextension of the meeting ends 8 forming one side of the passage in theclasp for the fabric of the belt or band. The front 9 of the clasp ispreferably reduced in weight by the opening 10.

The mating clasp member 11 is here shown as carrying an eye 13 as wellas a transverse slot 14 for the fabric and a longitudinal slot 15connecting therewith. The continuation of the longitudinal slot into thefabric slot permits sewing of the depending loop through the platebeginning at the extreme side of the fabric, thus preventing the kinkingof the fabric shown in exaggerated form in Fig. 8. At the same time theend 16 of the fabric may be secured to the plate to advantage by thisstitching. lVith this arrangement of the parts and stitching of theelastic from the extreme edge, it is not necessary that the elastic ofthis depending loop I be passed about the top of the plate as the edgesstay in place and the strength desired can be attained without this.

The opening of the slot 15 into the slot 14; makes the starting of thesewing much easier, as the slot 15 can be seen and the stitching startedreliably even without a templet. The first loop holds the edge firmlyand prevents puckering of the elastic. The form attained is shown inFig. 7, where the ends 17 of the depending loop 18 are stitched at 19,beginning at the extreme left edge. In Fig. 8, the scalloped sides at 20indicate the drawing of the fabric which is avoided and may otherwisetake place where the stitching 19 begins within the body of the elastic.

The plate 11 is outwardly bent, beginning at 21, to bring the innerfaces of the fabric upon the mating clasp parts in line. The rear partof the plate 11 is outwardly and then reversely turned to form fingers29. which afford a passage for the fabric between themselves and theplate, as seen in Figs. 1. at and 5.

As Will be seen from the drawings and description, the projection of oneof the cooperating members holds the fabric surrounding it in positionas a backing or protection of the metal in the other cooperating claspmember so that the inside surface presents no exposed metal, greatlyincreasing the comfort in the use of the garter. It will be evident thatthe projection could be made from either of the cooperating parts andthat the bending of the other part, While desirable to produce a smoothinner surface, is not essential to the metal-protecting function.

It Will be evident that my buckle or clasp construction, Whileespecially desirable for garter use, can also be applied to advantage inall kinds of belts for personal use.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is In a detachable fastening device for fabric,a plate having its sides turned rear- Wardly, transversely to the planeof the plate and then turned toward each other to provide a rearportion, thus forming a passage Way for the fabric parallel to theplate, an engaging member secured to the front of the plate, and anextension of the rear portion in the direction of the length of thepassageway and beyond the engaging member adapted to afford an edgeabout Which fabric entering the passage Way may be turned.

HELEN J. KAUFFMAN, VILLIAM STEELL JACKSON.

Copies oi this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

